Sorry for delayed response. Yes it usually does clear up with antibiotics which is great. Ive now completely swollen up and have terrible lower abdomen pains :-( I have a feeling i have another case of PID. TOday was the worst day of my life at work. I just wanted tht ground to open up and swallow me. Kept thinking ill just jump in front of a bus on my way home and then this will all be over!! Its the only thing that got me through the day.

I know changing jobs seems very extreme, I am only a temp at the moment and keeping thinking, i just wont turn up to work tomorrow, kind of disappear into thin air!

You know you could be on to something with alcohol triggering it, it is the only time it has ever been noticed come to think of it. Something to look into anyway.

So do you still suffer? Sorry to hear youve had a tough time of it too. You must be a better person than me to forgive them, i actually want to punch them all in the face. Why do bad things happen to good people.

I'm already dreading tomorrow at work, I just sat there all day on the verge of tears/panic attacks as soon as someone opened their mouth. I didnt eat all day cause i just felt sick to my stomach. They cracked out a fair few jokes at my expense. This is going to be the death of me.

Thanks so much for your advice etc, I really do appreciate it. I cant even talk to my friends about what is going on at work - i tried at the weekend but i couldnt bring myself to even say it - so its good to chat with someone

You Poor Girl! I feel so bad for you, and others (as well) who have been ostracized due to the smell... I too have been dealing with BV for a long, long time--more on that later, as it is late and I just wanted to reply to you with moral support.

I don't know if this is right or wrong (others may criticize me for even suggesting this..) But what I have done is, when I have a BV flare up that is overwhelming with odor, is I USE a tampon. This blocks any discharge of course and therefore, SMELL.

I have never had any problems with doing this and because of my self treatment I can usually get the problem under control in a few days.

I know how devastating this problem can be, and some days we feel so low, it's all we can do to face the next day. It has ruined my personal life, which includes hopes and dreams for the future since I am reluctant to have any intimate contact, and refuse straight out during bouts. I CAN'T IMAGINE being ostracized by my "friends" or co-workers because of this problem, that could just be too much too handle. I just feel so bad for those who have had to deal with this. I wish I could just HUG you!

Seriously, I know it may be wrong, although it hasn't caused me any further problems (than I already have) but I just use a tampon at those times, til I get through. No one is any wiser and to them I am a fresh smelling, happy, healthy girl (on the outside).

Actually, those with re-current yeast infections are actually recommended by gynecologists to use tampons during their periods because it is cleaner & drier with inhibits the moist environment which yeast loves. This is just to ease any worries some may have about the tampon/pad debate. Tampons are perfectly safe when they are used properly within their time frames.

---Also, this may be long, but to the girl who is afraid of douching, I have had good results with just soaking a tampon in "chosen" remedies instead of douching. I do think that it could flush bad stuff too far up into the cervix, but for just the area we are trying to alter/balance the climate of, I think a tampon soaked in your choice remedy is a better solution to douching.

PLEASE see a doctor....So you know what you have, AND in case you are trying hard to cover up the smell with perfumes/soaps--those things will just make your problem WORSE! Use unscented soap down there, like DOVE, or preferably NOTHING at all- just water. Our vaginas are sensitive ecosystems, and is supposed to be self cleansing. But especially at times like this it is extremely sensitive to disruptions and it needs time to balance out.

----Now I'll just mention quickly about my story and what I do to "manage" the problem---

After being put on Metronidazole (Flagyll) orally many, many times in the beginning..(I would say over 30 times) I'm sure I'll be screwed up for a long time with my re-current problem. Not to say it isn't a good solution for a one/two time problem if it goes away, but if it doesn't...you'll have hell to pay. Also, I was never told about the probiotic theory at the same time either, which surely would have helped then...

After (much) reading, I came across the medical study about peroxide douching and that is what I use to manage my problem. Except I don't douche, I just soak a tampon and use that. (Once/twice a day for 5-10 minutes til it's gone--smell 3 days, whole thing 7 days) It works for me, but unfortunately it does come back if I even attempt sex. None the less, at the time, I realized it was preferable than (expensive, humiliating) trips to the dr, over & over & over again....I swear I was losing my mind and my wallet, and my dr's thought I was prob crazy too. Now I know it is them who are NUTS

I have tried probiotics (RePhresh pro- but it was very expensive and took too long. Although, I think I will try again after reading more....it takes 28-something like 60 days to recolonize the vagina. I will pay anything to fix this problem for good!

I also think part of my problem is while the peroxide soaked tampon worked, it still left my vagina lacking the good bacteria to re-balance. Thus reoccurring after attempted sex. Also, it didn't raise the ph in order to make that re-establishment friendly.

So after much, much, much more reading, what I think I will do is stay on the pro-b LONGER. I read a study that said some women with recurrent problems may need more than one plan of remedy at a time. Like 3 or 4.

So here is what I will try next...

Peroxide soaked tampons 1 or 2x day 5 mins, 7 days (which always worked) to rid the problemVinegar tampon after peroxide, then periodically to make Ph more acidic (like a healthy vag is)Probiotics FOR a long, long time(like RePhresh Pro-B-- to recolonize with good stuff)And multi-vitamin formulated for women (which has over 500mgs of FOLIC Acid)

I have always been able to cure myself, but now I am attempting to keep the problem away for good.I will update the situation, and let all know how it's going. I have been using this system for two days after a bout and so far, smell good!

Anyway, much later and longer post than I had intended, but I know you all deserve as much help as possible and one more story can help. Take care all and I will be back to update. xoxo

Sorry for delayed response. Yes it usually does clear up with antibiotics which is great. Ive now completely swollen up and have terrible lower abdomen pains :-( I have a feeling i have another case of PID. TOday was the worst day of my life at work. I just wanted tht ground to open up and swallow me. Kept thinking ill just jump in front of a bus on my way home and then this will all be over!! Its the only thing that got me through the day.

I know changing jobs seems very extreme, I am only a temp at the moment and keeping thinking, i just wont turn up to work tomorrow, kind of disappear into thin air!

You know you could be on to something with alcohol triggering it, it is the only time it has ever been noticed come to think of it. Something to look into anyway.

So do you still suffer? Sorry to hear youve had a tough time of it too. You must be a better person than me to forgive them, i actually want to punch them all in the face. Why do bad things happen to good people.

I'm already dreading tomorrow at work, I just sat there all day on the verge of tears/panic attacks as soon as someone opened their mouth. I didnt eat all day cause i just felt sick to my stomach. They cracked out a fair few jokes at my expense. This is going to be the death of me.

Thanks so much for your advice etc, I really do appreciate it. I cant even talk to my friends about what is going on at work - i tried at the weekend but i couldnt bring myself to even say it - so its good to chat with someone

Ever since I've cleaned up my diet and started taking probiotics, my symptoms improved considerably. Compared to how I was doing years ago, it's like night and day. The odor was bad enough to stay in a room even after I've left. I'm now on the path of strictly staying on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for 6 months and going on VSL#3 in order to re-balance my intestinal flora and give my intestines plenty of time to heal. I'm currently transitioning; but I am sticking to the diet for the most part.

I think it would be really helpful if you talked to your friends about it. You'd be surprised at how understanding and supportive some people can be. Be careful to not confide in people you don't completely trust. At the very least, you can always talk to someone on this forum.

If you plan on looking for another job anyway, you should find a job where you don't have to be in close proximity of other people. That will probably help you cope while at work better.

Sorry for delayed response. Yes it usually does clear up with antibiotics which is great. Ive now completely swollen up and have terrible lower abdomen pains :-( I have a feeling i have another case of PID. TOday was the worst day of my life at work. I just wanted tht ground to open up and swallow me. Kept thinking ill just jump in front of a bus on my way home and then this will all be over!! Its the only thing that got me through the day.

I know changing jobs seems very extreme, I am only a temp at the moment and keeping thinking, i just wont turn up to work tomorrow, kind of disappear into thin air!

You know you could be on to something with alcohol triggering it, it is the only time it has ever been noticed come to think of it. Something to look into anyway.

So do you still suffer? Sorry to hear youve had a tough time of it too. You must be a better person than me to forgive them, i actually want to punch them all in the face. Why do bad things happen to good people.

I'm already dreading tomorrow at work, I just sat there all day on the verge of tears/panic attacks as soon as someone opened their mouth. I didnt eat all day cause i just felt sick to my stomach. They cracked out a fair few jokes at my expense. This is going to be the death of me.

Thanks so much for your advice etc, I really do appreciate it. I cant even talk to my friends about what is going on at work - i tried at the weekend but i couldnt bring myself to even say it - so its good to chat with someone

Hey thanks so much for your response. Its such an awful situation to be in. Nothing has ever been mentioned before, ive never even noticed a smell when im at work or on previous nights out with them, thats why im surprised its happened now. I'd also had quite a few drinks that night and cant pin point when it all came about or how which is driving me insane. Ive been in this situation before a few years back and it was also on anight out when ive not remembered whats happened. I did have my period at the time and usually find that doesnt help. I just cant take sitting there listening to all these little jokes that they think I dont notice, but I do. I cant relax for a moment and just sit there waiting for the next comment. I got on with everyone so well before and now they just laugh in my face. People can be so cruel. And your right if they actually looked it up they would realise itsnot because im dirty, its a very common infection. The girls in my work should know better I think! Im considering leaving my work and getting anew job, which i know is a bit extreme but then i think it will be really obvious as to whats going on. But I think for my mental health it a good idea. Im so paranoid that people are talking about me everywhere I go. Its really getting me down ive been so low this week and called in sick one day as i couldnt bear it. I just want to run away and hide from everyone. Lifes a bitch eh!

I gather you have experienced the same thing?

Thanks for the tips, will certainly look into it. Think ill get an appointment with my doctor and get a check up as its been a while. Ive had this on and off since i was 19 so thats been 10 years now, I was also diagnosed with PID a few years back and dont know if that's got anything to do with it ....

Maybe the alcohol is what triggered the onset of BV. And alcohol can actually affect reproductive hormones in men and women, causing an imbalance of estrogen in women and testicular injuries in men. It's totally not impossible the alcohol contributed in some way. People often forget that alcohol is a very toxic substance that is very harmful to your liver and bodily organs, including your brain. Women tend to get drunk faster since they don't produce a lot of alcohol dehydrogenase, a substance that the body produces in the small intestine that breaks down alcohol. It's recommended that women not have more than one small drink for this reason. Men can get away with drinking two drinks since they produce more alcohol dehydrogenase. I think vodka has the least amount of sugar/carbohydrates, but it also has the highest alcohol content. It also helps to eat fatty foods when you drink since it helps the alcohol absorb more slowly into your body; so you won't get drunk as fast.

Changing jobs probably won't help since the BV may not have cleared up, so people in your next job will probably notice eventually. It would make more sense to change jobs after it clears up to give yourself a fresh start. I personally wouldn't change jobs though since that wouldn't solve anything. I can totally understand how you feel.

The stress of constantly thinking about what others think of you can affect your mental health and cause anxiety in the long term ... I would know. People would often comment about my odor. Things I experienced was loud coughing, sniffling, whispering, snarky comments such as "what's that smell?", "do you smell that", laughing, snickering etc. Someone once told me "you stink" to my face, in the middle of my class mates. Somebody else who was sitting within a few feet of me was talking about me with someone else and said "she reeks". Nobody wanted to sit next to me. And there was this awkward inside joke that people had going on when I was around, like they were in on something, that something being the odor.

Women are usually the worst about it as women like to judge other women to feel better about themselves. Women are biologically more sensitive to smells than men.

Dealing with that off and on a daily basis can emotionally wear you down. I know I had to constantly remind myself when I experienced those things that they wouldn't act like that if they were in my shoes and experiencing the emotional distress that I had to deal with on a daily basis. So I forgave them in my mind and didn't take it so personally.

I can completely understand your situation, but try to be logical about the decisions you make and how it will affect you in the long term.

It's definitely a good idea to schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN soon. The pelvic inflammatory disease sounds like something that could be contributing as inflammation can affect the balance of bacteria. Does your BV normally clear up with a round of antibiotics?

Hey thanks so much for your response. Its such an awful situation to be in. Nothing has ever been mentioned before, ive never even noticed a smell when im at work or on previous nights out with them, thats why im surprised its happened now. I'd also had quite a few drinks that night and cant pin point when it all came about or how which is driving me insane. Ive been in this situation before a few years back and it was also on anight out when ive not remembered whats happened. I did have my period at the time and usually find that doesnt help. I just cant take sitting there listening to all these little jokes that they think I dont notice, but I do. I cant relax for a moment and just sit there waiting for the next comment. I got on with everyone so well before and now they just laugh in my face. People can be so cruel. And your right if they actually looked it up they would realise itsnot because im dirty, its a very common infection. The girls in my work should know better I think! Im considering leaving my work and getting anew job, which i know is a bit extreme but then i think it will be really obvious as to whats going on. But I think for my mental health it a good idea. Im so paranoid that people are talking about me everywhere I go. Its really getting me down ive been so low this week and called in sick one day as i couldnt bear it. I just want to run away and hide from everyone. Lifes a bitch eh!

I gather you have experienced the same thing?

Thanks for the tips, will certainly look into it. Think ill get an appointment with my doctor and get a check up as its been a while. Ive had this on and off since i was 19 so thats been 10 years now, I was also diagnosed with PID a few years back and dont know if that's got anything to do with it ....

From my personal experience, as long as your colleagues can smell the odor coming from you, they will continue to alienate you. That is what people will naturally do as they probably find the odor repulsive. Try not to take their comments personally since they don't know what your going through. I'm sure they would be a lot more sympathetic and understanding if they knew that your dealing with a chronic health condition, but understandably, talking about something so intimate is very difficult, especially with people you may not be very close with.

Try to just relax (chamomile tea is very helpful for this) and think of your situation constructively. Think about your plan of action for your sudden onset of bacterial vaginosis. I don't know the kinds of things your doing on a daily basis to prevent a recurrence of bacterial vaginosis, but RepHresh Pro-B is tremendously helpful for taking everyday. It's clinically proven to work and it comes with a $2.00 coupon inside for your next purchase. There is another probiotic that came out called Provella which has a $6.00 coupon on their website, and an $8.00 coupon if you take a survey. It looks promising so I personally plan on trying it out at some point to see if it may work even better than RepHresh Pro-B since it has more strains of bacteria in it. It's available over the counter, so it's definitely not a sketchy product.

Removing refined grains, as well as all grains and all added sugars has drastically improved my vaginitis. I'm on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I guess in my case it has to do with my intestinal flora being imbalanced as well. Grain products and sugar is notorious for exacerbating imbalances in people with digestive disorders. It improved so much to the point where people who were so used to noticing the odor would discretely come close to me to see if they could detect it, which they couldn't. Many women have gone grain and sugar free and noticed drastic improvement, so I don't think this is exclusive to people with gastrointestinal disorders.

Not wearing pants and jeans helps too. I've noticed the thicker material of jeans tends to exacerbate things, probably from the lack of circulation to the vulva and vagina.

Stay strong; I'm sure things will improve for you since your bacterial vaginosis seems to clear up occasionally.Your welcome!

just come across this forum and need some advice. I have suffered with bouts of BV on and off for years. My recent bout has been discovered by some work colleagues on a night out and now i am the butt of office jokes, as if im not even there. No one wants to talk to me anymore. Im absolutely devastated and mortified I just cant face going in there every day. Any advice?

From my personal experience, as long as your colleagues can smell the odor coming from you, they will continue to alienate you. That is what people will naturally do as they probably find the odor repulsive. Try not to take their comments personally since they don't know what your going through. I'm sure they would be a lot more sympathetic and understanding if they knew that your dealing with a chronic health condition, but understandably, talking about something so intimate is very difficult, especially with people you may not be very close with.

Try to just relax (chamomile tea is very helpful for this) and think of your situation constructively. Think about your plan of action for your sudden onset of bacterial vaginosis. I don't know the kinds of things your doing on a daily basis to prevent a recurrence of bacterial vaginosis, but RepHresh Pro-B is tremendously helpful for taking everyday. It's clinically proven to work and it comes with a $2.00 coupon inside for your next purchase. There is another probiotic that came out called Provella which has a $6.00 coupon on their website, and an $8.00 coupon if you take a survey. It looks promising so I personally plan on trying it out at some point to see if it may work even better than RepHresh Pro-B since it has more strains of bacteria in it. It's available over the counter, so it's definitely not a sketchy product.

Removing refined grains, as well as all grains and all added sugars has drastically improved my vaginitis. I'm on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I guess in my case it has to do with my intestinal flora being imbalanced as well. Grain products and sugar is notorious for exacerbating imbalances in people with digestive disorders. It improved so much to the point where people who were so used to noticing the odor would discretely come close to me to see if they could detect it, which they couldn't. Many women have gone grain and sugar free and noticed drastic improvement, so I don't think this is exclusive to people with gastrointestinal disorders.

Not wearing pants and jeans helps too. I've noticed the thicker material of jeans tends to exacerbate things, probably from the lack of circulation to the vulva and vagina.

Stay strong; I'm sure things will improve for you since your bacterial vaginosis seems to clear up occasionally.

QUOTE(princessmombi @ Sep 30 2012, 09:24 PM)

hi swt!LOVE the Pro B!!!!! I happened to see it at Walmart so I picked it up, it was 30 damn dollars tho that kind of blew me but its so good i won't complain ill just load up on coupons and stock up during the sales. I have only been using the pro b for 5 days but so far I like it even more than the fem d! I hadn't used fem d in over a month and my bv was back full force but the pro b started to work the first day and now I'm totally back to norm!!!! Normal discharge and no smell. I really agree with you about the refrigeration thing, just because I get it cold doesn't mean that it didn't sit on a warm truck from the distributor to the iHerb warehouse so it's just not worth it to go through all the trouble and expense of ordering it. Thanks for ur suggestion

just come across this forum and need some advice. I have suffered with bouts of BV on and off for years. My recent bout has been discovered by some work colleagues on a night out and now i am the butt of office jokes, as if im not even there. No one wants to talk to me anymore. Im absolutely devastated and mortified I just cant face going in there every day. Any advice?

That's one of the main reasons why I switched from Fem-Dophilus to RepHresh Pro-B even though it's generally more expensive. RepHresh Pro-B is freeze dried. I don't really trust refrigerated probiotics anymore. RepHresh Pro-B has been on sale for around $20 at my local Walgreens lately, but, I don't expect that to last very long.

hi swt!LOVE the Pro B!!!!! I happened to see it at Walmart so I picked it up, it was 30 damn dollars tho that kind of blew me but its so good i won't complain ill just load up on coupons and stock up during the sales. I have only been using the pro b for 5 days but so far I like it even more than the fem d! I hadn't used fem d in over a month and my bv was back full force but the pro b started to work the first day and now I'm totally back to norm!!!! Normal discharge and no smell. I really agree with you about the refrigeration thing, just because I get it cold doesn't mean that it didn't sit on a warm truck from the distributor to the iHerb warehouse so it's just not worth it to go through all the trouble and expense of ordering it. Thanks for ur suggestion

And one thing i wanted to share, i have a family member who works for whole foods and he stated to me that femd does not come to them refrigerated. He gets it off the truck himself and it arrives in boxes, warm So keep in mind these stores might have them in the fridge at purchase but you dont know how long it spent on a truck and in the warm months that could mean that its lost potency quite a bit by the time you take it.

That's one of the main reasons why I switched from Fem-Dophilus to RepHresh Pro-B even though it's generally more expensive. RepHresh Pro-B is freeze dried. I don't really trust refrigerated probiotics anymore. RepHresh Pro-B has been on sale for around $20 at my local Walgreens lately, but, I don't expect that to last very long.

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone else experienced vaginal dryness with the use of femdophilus (oral). I know this is tmi but my stuff was never dry before during sex and now it is :/ i just want a normal pum pum ! And on top of that whenever i stop the femd my smell comes back. Swt simplicty i think the fruit and veggie thing is excellent advice im gonna start eating more nutrients and see if that makes a difference with my vaginal mucous. And one thing i wanted to share, i have a family member who works for whole foods and he stated to me that femd does not come to them refrigerated. He gets it off the truck himself and it arrives in boxes, warm So keep in mind these stores might have them in the fridge at purchase but you dont know how long it spent on a truck and in the warm months that could mean that its lost potency quite a bit by the time you take it. I prefer toget mine from iherb because it is kept refrigerated and arrives packed cold and before 10 am the next day and if u buy a few at a time the $12 extra it cost to get priority next day shipping pays for itself!! Just my two cents! Happy labor day errybody be safe!!

Thank you that is good info, although I was hoping you would say it was OK since I am looking for ANYTHING to help me control my symptoms. Has anyone had success with the garlic clove or yogurt insertion treatment?? seems a little less invasive than douching.

what about other health factors? I also suffer from frequent indigestion/constipation, allergies & mild-moderate asthma.. do you think that could having something to do with it???

I know how you feel. I've tried douching (once), plain yogurt insertion at bed time and a garlic suppository. All of them didn't help and actually caused my vaginitis to get worse. The garlic actually mixed with my natural vaginal scent and created a very unpleasant aroma that lasted until the following day and it also burned even when I wrapped it in gauze. The yogurt also created a strong odor that smelled like dry erase markers. The douching didn't work; it just rinsed me out and also increased the odor for what ever reason. But then again, everyone is different. However, nobody has ever broken down those treatments to an exact science proving why they work, how much to use, what brand etc. That is usually the problem.

I think if your willing to try alternative treatments, you can see a doctor or practitioner who specializes in alternative medicine or complementary/integrative medicine. A lot of them actually go to medical school and are certified and specialize in holistic remedies. They can also help you with any preexisting conditions.

I've frequented other forums where women who have digestive issues often have reoccurring vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. Some of them noticed that after they started experiencing digestive issues, they started having problems with vaginal infections. It makes a lot of sense since the digestive tract makes up 70% of the immune system. If something is going wrong in the digestive tract, various organs in the body will show signs of disturbance.

I've been reading a lot of scientific literature stating that our society is so clean that people are more likely these days to have gastrointestinal disorders, eczema, allergies and asthma. One of the best ways for our bodies to build immunity is through ingesting microorganisms. Since were not getting enough exposure to these organisms, our bodies tend to overreact to even common toxins (like dust, pollen, milk, nuts etc.) causing inflammation. This inflammation, especially if it is chronic is not good. Chronic inflammation increases the likelihood of infection among even more serious things like cancer.

Have you tried using an acidifying vaginal gel? Replens (here) and RepHresh Vaginal Gel (here) have low pH's. Some women on here have had success with BalanceActiv (here), but you might want to search through the forum to read about their specific cases. BalanceActiv is specifically marketed towards women with bacterial vaginosis in Europe. You can only get it online. It's a mainstream treatment for bacterial vaginosis in Europe. We unfortunately don't have one yet. You want to use something that will lower your vaginal pH and create a very hostile environment for the harmful bacteria. This will be helpful for lactobacilli as well. Those gels have pH buffers which contain glycogen which feed the lactic acid bacterial (lactobacilli). You should also take probiotics, probably for a very long time until your sure that your pretty stable in terms of vaginal health. Fem-Dophilus (here) is your best bet and it comes in the 60 count bottle. I used to order mine off of the internet, but I suggest picking it up from a health food store if you can and bring a cooler with ice packs in it with you to keep it cold on the way back home. Once my order came a day late and that isn't good for cold items. You'll probably need to take two capsules everyday until you notice an improvement after that, you can take one capsule if you feel ready to.

Chronic bacterial vaginosis often requires longer treatments. A lot of women have a had a lot of success with strict regimen's while others hit the jackpot using a combination of things and their bacterial vaginosis never returns. But most importantly, try to be skeptical of treatments and careful with whatever your trying.

Thank you that is good info, although I was hoping you would say it was OK since I am looking for ANYTHING to help me control my symptoms. Has anyone had success with the garlic clove or yogurt insertion treatment?? seems a little less invasive than douching.

what about other health factors? I also suffer from frequent indigestion/constipation, allergies & mild-moderate asthma.. do you think that could having something to do with it???

my question is about douching and chronic bv. I have heard it so many times NOT to douch because this makes bv worse, but all the most popular remedies (hydrogen peroxide, betadine, apple cider vinegar) all involve using the remedy as douche. Is it possible these do harm as well as good?? I'm really struggling with repeated bouts of bacterial vaginosis, but I already have a very healthy, mostly vegetarian diet and I don't know what else to try, any advice is appreciated..

Hi Kaylan,

I'm sorry to hear your dealing with chronic bacterial vaginosis. I have a couple of suggestions for you.

The main issue with douching and bacterial vaginosis is it can propel harmful microorganisms past the cervix. Keep in mind, the vagina is trying to stay acidic in order to protect the uterus and sexual reproductive organs from infection and disease. If harmful bacteria get past the cervix, there are serious consequences, such as pelvic inflammatory disease which is chronic and can lead to infertility among other things.

I'm familiar with those remedies that your talking about that suggest things such as douching with apple cider vinegar, betadine, or hydrogen peroxide etc. Something to consider when treating an infection such as bacterial vaginosis is the bacteria or microorganisms that are causing the infection. Sometimes certain formulations are too weak to have much of an effect on the bacteria, or the bacteria will learn to adapt in order to survive. Certain formulations are not appropriate for treating certain infectious microorganisms.

I think in the case of chronic bacterial vaginosis, douching won't have much of an effect since the bacteria being dealt with is probably very resistant and hard to treat so something like apple cider vinegar, betadine or hydrogen peroxide would be too weak to treat it. If you plan on trying herbal remedies, I'll leave some reliable sources that you can use to get reliable information pertaining to herbal remedies, integrative medicine, complementary medicine and alternative medicine (all of which deal with natural remedies). You may want to look into remedies that enhance immune function and display broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. I've reviewed plenty of studies that have used natural herbs to fight bacteria, parasites and some viruses. But supplements aren't regulated and the strength varies, and you can never be too sure of how much you need in order to see a difference, but many of them do have an effect.

It's great to know your on a healthy vegetarian diet. Vegetarian diets are definitely one of the healthiest so long as the diet is a well balanced vegetarian diet. You may or may not know this, but I'll mention it just in case (as well as for others who may consider going vegetarian). Certain nutrients aren't as bio-available in vegetarian diets, particularly zinc, iron, calcium, protein, vitamin D and omega 3's. Those nutrients have a higher bioavailability in meat and diary products than from plant foods. Vegetarian diets can also decrease the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. I'll leave some suggested links you can read about on this.

Vitamin D has been linked to a higher prevalence of bacterial vaginosis. Normally it's associated with bone health, but it also serves an important role in immune function as well. A lack of zinc hasn't been directly linked to bacterial vaginosis, but it does serve a very important role in the body ranging from immune function, wound healing and proper cell function (source). Vitamin B12 also serves an important role in cell synthesis. Iron carries oxygen to cells, and most women to not get enough causing anemia, and we also menstruate every month too which also affects iron stores in the body. Protein is highly abundant and serves many roles in the body, way too many to even begin mentioning, but all very important as well. It wouldn't be a bad idea to consult with a registered dietitian to be sure your diet contains adequate amounts of essential nutrients and trace minerals just to be on the safe side.

my question is about douching and chronic bv. I have heard it so many times NOT to douch because this makes bv worse, but all the most popular remedies (hydrogen peroxide, betadine, apple cider vinegar) all involve using the remedy as douche. Is it possible these do harm as well as good?? I'm really struggling with repeated bouts of bacterial vaginosis, but I already have a very healthy, mostly vegetarian diet and I don't know what else to try, any advice is appreciated..

I have been dealing with chronic bv for longer than I care to think of. My heart goes out to you all! I have used probiotics off and on during the years. I believe as our science advances, that an end to this problem is in sight. When I have time, I try to educate myself and keep up with any new clinical studies as they become available.

Swt Simplicity - I noticed that you suggested adding prebiotics into our diets. I have read some case studies..(mostly involving animals ) lol that prebiotics are just as complex as probiotics. XOS, IMO, GOS, GTO, FOS, MOS to name some. If I remember correctly IMO supported the lactobacillus group the best. I commonly see what foods can provide the body with GOS, but not FOS, or IMO. Have you came across any helpful information concerning the prebiotics?

Of the studies that I have read about prebiotics, the results are very promising. However, most of the studies I have read tend to be very brief and they don't contain large enough sample groups, nor are these studies very comprehensive. I don't think the science world has fully caught onto studying prebiotics yet. I'm sure that is the next thing to come considering so much research has been done on probiotics.

When eating prebiotics, it's important to be careful of the source. One substance that has one of the highest levels of prebiotics is chicory root; a lot of companies have been fortifying their energy bars and granola bars with it. The chicory root allows the company to claim the product is high in fiber. The interesting thing is, chicory root has been shown to boost good bacteria in the intestines, but some research has shown it also boosts unhealthy bacteria in the intestines as well. It seems as though chicory root doesn't specifically target the healthy bacteria, but potentially all of the bacteria. If someone has poor intestinal flora, they could be making their intestinal flora worse by feeding the predominating unhealthy bacteria. Chicory has been shown to cause digestive issues in some people, such as gas (fermenting bacteria), abdominal cramping (high fiber content), gastrointestinal irritation, bloating ... it goes to show how important it is to do a little bit of research when marching into unfamiliar territory. Most of those energy bars are also very high in sugar as well.

A recent alert going on in the food industry has been due to acrylamide. A compound that forms when carbohydrates are cooked past 248 degrees Fahrenheit that is shown to cause cancer. Potato chips and french fries have the highest levels of acrylamide. Coffee, breakfast cereals, baked breads, donuts, and similar processed foods also contain high levels of acrylamide if they are cooked at or past 248 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers are now trying to alter the compounds that form acrylamide (source).

The unfortunate thing about these health alerts is they are rarely made public.

I have been dealing with chronic bv for longer than I care to think of. My heart goes out to you all! I have used probiotics off and on during the years. I believe as our science advances, that an end to this problem is in sight. When I have time, I try to educate myself and keep up with any new clinical studies as they become available.

Swt Simplicity - I noticed that you suggested adding prebiotics into our diets. I have read some case studies..(mostly involving animals ) lol that prebiotics are just as complex as probiotics. XOS, IMO, GOS, GTO, FOS, MOS to name some. If I remember correctly IMO supported the lactobacillus group the best. I commonly see what foods can provide the body with GOS, but not FOS, or IMO. Have you came across any helpful information concerning the prebiotics?

I am not sure for how long I have been suffering from BV. My only symptom is the fishy smell. I have congenital anosmia (no sense of smell). My boyfriend told me a few months ago about the smell, made an appt with my gyno and she Rx Metro Gel, the smell went away from March til July. I am a stinker again. A few days ago, the boyfriend told me that he had noticed the smell since we started dating (3 years ago) but always connected it to sweat and hot climate. That's why I say that I have no idea for how long Ive been dealing with this, if none of my other partners before him thought much about it..

So, I do not really want to get on antibiotics again so Ive been doing research on this topic and it's humbling to see how many of us suffer from this, some are stories with happy endings and others no to much.

This is my second day on this home remedy ordeal. I bought some cranberry pills ( cranberry is supposed to acts as a barrier to bacteria)I also started introduced probiotics to my diet (Kefir and good ol' plain yogurt - make sure they have live cultures)As a vaginal treatment. I bought cheap probiotics at walmart (non refrigerated) and pulverized them. Then I mixed them with this milk-based probiotic super liquid (Found in the vitamin refrigerated section at Sprouts). Made I paste and applied it with the applicator I got with the MetroGel.

I am wondering, though.. if I am doing something stupid here. I am taking cranberry ( which is a barrier to all bacteria?) and then introducing bacteria.. that might not stay in because of the cranberry.

My question is, does cranberry works for good and bad bacteria. I am aware that BV is an imbalance of bacteria, and the bad boys are taking oveThank you much! [/b]

Hi!

After reading your story, I'd like to offer some of my advice. I have a lot of advice to give, so here goes ...

A probiotic should be taken whole since it is meant to survive the low pH of the stomach acid (which is a pH of 2) and dissolve within the small and large intestine. Certain strains of probiotics won't adhere to the vaginal epithelium either, such as dairy sourced lactobacillus acidophilus and most probiotics that are found over the counter as those are sourced from dairy. I don't know what brand or type of probiotic bacteria your taking but, you want a high amount of colony forming units (cfu's) if you want a noticeable effect. A small amount of CFU's (such as a billion or less) will only provide a therapeutic effect which is beneficial to those who are taking probiotics for general welling being, but not enough to be noticeable in someone with an active infection or GI dysfunction. Aim for 5 million or more CFU's. Kudos for purchasing the plain yogurt and kefir. Is the kefir plain too?

Eating plain yogurt 2-3 times a day is also very beneficial. Even though yogurt on average has 100 million live bacteria at the time of manufacture (which is a very small amount), the bacteria often survives the harsh stomach acid and it passes through the GI tract crowding out harmful bacteria. It would be better if you could make your own yogurt at home. It's very easy since there are affordable yogurt machines and you can buy the cultures too. It's fresher and there will be more live bacteria at the time of consumption. Yogurt on store shelves could have been sitting around for days; by the time you eat the yogurt, most of the bacteria may not have survived. I highly suggest that you take a probiotic like Fem-Dophilus or RepHresh Pro B. Those are the only probiotics that are clinically proven to work for the balancing the vaginal flora including women with bacterial vaginosis. I've tried them both and they helped me so much.

I don't think probiotics that are meant to be digested will dissolve properly or work well applied in the vagina since most probiotics have coatings on them. Of the vaginal suppositories that I've heard of, none of them have really proven to be successful in treating bacterial vaginosis. Not even boric acid is successful in treating bacterial vaginosis. It works for a short time and then the infection comes right back, and it's probably not healthy to be putting a strong acid in the vagina over and over again, plus it kills the healthy bacteria too; it's mainly helpful for stubborn yeast infections. I know one brand in particular that is sold at drugstores called V.H. Essentials BV Treatment suppositories; it has a lot of great reviews on Amazon, getting 3.5/5 stars from 91 reviews. But, I'm skeptical of whether it works or not. In my opinion, it seems too good to be true.

Then there is another suppository called Pur Fem which seems promising. It contains an abundant amount of healthy bacteria (10 billion at the time of manufacture) called lactobacillus rhamnosus and lactobacillus gasseri that is normally found in the vaginal flora of healthy women. I'm skeptical of this as well since it doesn't state whether the bacteria count will stay alive by the expiration date. There could be a lot of dead bacteria in the suppositories by the time someone uses it. And another strange thing is, it's being recommended for trichomoniasis which is an STD, and I'm pretty sure that can't be treated with probiotics.

I also highly suggest eating prebiotics which are non-digestible fibers that are naturally occuring in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Prebiotics stimulate healthy bacteria in the GI tract because fibers don't break down so the intestinal bacteria has to ferment them; this action is what stimulates the colonic bacteria. Foods high in prebiotics are generally foods that are high in fiber such as raw Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, dandelion greens, onions, raw asparagus, bananas, whole wheat flour, raw wheat bran, soy beans, oat, groats, etc. Cooking these foods denatures the nutrients and fibers inside, so it's best to eat those foods raw or steam them to allow the fiber to work it's magic.

I know cranberry juice is good for preventing urinary tract infections; I don't know if the same applies for bacterial vaginosis. You can keep taking it to see if it helps. It couldn't hurt.

Also, make sure your getting the recommended daily amount of vitamin A in your diet, which is 600 micrograms a day. It's a nutrient that is very important for the vaginal epithelium (the cells that line the vagina) as well as the epithelium of the intestines too. An unhealthy vaginal epithelium is more likely to become infected since the cells, lining and mucous aren't functioning properly. A healthy epithelium produces a healthy lining and healthy mucous which protects from harmful microorganisms. Dark green vegetables, deep orange vegetables and purple fruits are an excellent source of vitamin A. One cup of sweet potatoes contains over 400% of the RDA, which is okay since the tolerable intake is as high as 3,000 micrograms per day.

Some things to keep in mind about nutrients is absorption. Certain nutrients are absorbed better when they are taken along with other nutrients. For example, iron is absorbed well in the presence of vitamin C; vitamin E deficiency affects the absorption and storage of vitamin A; calcium and magnesium also work well together. The beauty of whole foods is they often contain an abundance of nutrients that function well together. For example, the sweet potato is high in vitamin A, but it also contains other vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6, tryptophan, potassium, fiber, vitamin B5, copper, and vitamin B3. All of those nutrients can't be found in one vitamin or supplement pill; even if they were, the supplement would be expensive. All of those nutrients work together and enhance each others absorption.

Americans generally don't have to worry about nutrient deficiencies. It's pretty rare in the U.S.A. The main issue is mostly saturated fats, trans fat, hydrogenated foods etc. ... these things can alter a persons blood lipid profile (which accounts for cholesterol [HDL and LDL], triglycerides and lipoproteins (all of which carry very important functions throughout the body). Cholesterol aids in the synthesis of vitamin D and hormones, while triglycerides are the major storage form of fat in the body, lipoproteins transport fats in the blood. Improper functioning of someones blood lipids can result in metabolic disorders that kill millions of people every year. In short, saturated fats, trans fats and hydrogenated foods etc. increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis (source).

And, if you continue to take antibiotics, or anything that is going to kill a lot of the bacterial flora in your intestines and/or urogenital tract (vagina and urinary tract), make sure you take a probiotic everyday. It's critical to replenish the lost bacteria since the depletion of healthy bacteria can further exacerbate your infection.

I'm sending good vibes your way and hoping your infection goes away for good.I know it can be very frustrating.

I don;t think your boyfriend saying you smell is enough to know for sure what the problem is. How did your doctor diagnose you? i wouldn't worry about cranberry doing anything, I would worry that your home vaginal treatment is going to make the problem worse. I would make another appointment ASAP, have an exam and if you get antibiotics, get pills not a gel, and ask to have some for your boyfriend too. I think metro-gel gives a lot of problems with BV coming back, but try the antibiotics again and take them just as prescribed. IF you truely have BV you need to try medication a few times, it SHOULD clear it up. Good luck

Kayla

hi Kayla,

Sorry I didnt mentioned I was diagnosed with BV and went on antibiotics treatments prescribed by my OBGYN but the BV always comes back. I do not want to spend my life on antibiotics.

Last night, my bf mentioned that the smell is less pronounced. I am doing the treatment again today and hopefully the smell will be less and less. Remember, I have no sense of smell, so I have to wait for someone to smell me